Bowral cricket museum: Why visit the Bradman Museum?

The Bradman Museum in Bowral, incorporating the International Cricket Hall of Fame, will have cricket-lovers gripped. But even non-cricket fans might learn a thing or two.

The Bradman Oval in Bowral, New South Wales, is easily one of the world’s prettiest cricket grounds. Out in the middle, the man with the lawnmower conducts his lonely vigil. He’s keeping the grass on the wicket at just the right length. Most groundsmen take a pride in their work, but here it’s something of a hallowed Turf. Lord’s may be the home of cricket. The MCG may have hosted the first Test match. Adelaide Oval may have the beautiful setting. But the Bradman Oval in Bowral seems the neatest encapsulation of the sport.

Donald Bradman in Bowral

The name of this Bowral cricket ground comes from the town’s most famous son, who happened to be the best batsman of all time. Bowral loves Sir Donald Bradman, who started out practicing by hitting a golf ball with a single stump. There’s now even a self-guided walking trail around the quaint but well-to-do Southern Highlands town. This Bowral walking trail links places with even the vaguest Bradman connection. You’ll spot the Mary Poppins statue on the way. PL Travers apparently wrote her book about the magical nanny while living in the town.

5 great Southern Highlands experiences to boost your visit

Personalised private Southern Highlands wine and attractions tours – tailored to your tastes.
Tutored wine-tasting and canapes experience.
Beekeeping experience – learn how honey is made.
Guided wine-tasting at the Mill – with tasting notes procided.
Behind the scenes tour of a sustainable winery in Berrima.

Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame

But the Bradman Museum, which has been expanded to incorporate the International Cricket Hall of Fame, is by far the most interesting of these attractions. Part of the Bradman Museum acts as a eulogy to Sir Donald himself. But the vast majority of this Bowral cricket museum is about that weird sport with labyrinthine rules that can go on for five days and still end in a draw.

Learning cricket at the Bradman Museum

There’s a cap-doff to that rather perplexing inaccessibility, with clever attempts to explain the basics via interactive touch screens. On one, you can set the field as a computer player runs in to bowl. Even a novice captain starts to work out how the placement of the players can restrict the runs.

On others, video footage of bowlers in the nets is used to explain what the variations in delivery are. It’s a clear demonstration of leg-cutters moving off the pitch and outswingers moving through the air, while chinamen and wrong ‘uns are also visually demystified.

Origins of cricket at the Bowral Cricket Museum

The section on the origins of the game are unexpectedly fascinating, bringing up things that even a keen cricketer might be surprised by. Apparently ‘cricce’ is an Anglo-Saxon word for a crooked staff – and cricket has evolved from a game played by bored shepherds. The first international game was between the US and Canada, George Washington’s troops played cricket during the War of Independence and Abraham Lincoln would go to watch before homegrown baseball took over.

Also to be filed under “I didn’t know that” is the nugget that pads only came in when bowlers switched from bowling underarm to overarm in the 1860s.

Bodyline tour at the Bradman Museum

And it’s protection that’s the theme of the most interesting exhibit inside this Bowral cricket museum. It goes into the infamous 1932-33 Bodyline tour, when the English captain hit upon the theory of bowling short balls aimed at the batsman’s body, then packing the leg side with fielders waiting to catch as the batsman attempted to defend himself. It nearly caused riots and diplomatic incidents, and the video footage – one of a batsman being hit on the chest, another having his skull fractured – show just how hostile it was.

It’s certainly an eye-opener for anyone thinking cricket is as genteel as Bowral…

Things to do in the Southern Highlands

Bowral is one of the main centres in the Southern Highlands to the south west of Sydney. You’ll pass close by on the drive from Canberra to Sydney. Other highlights of the region include Fitzroy Falls in the Morton National Park, Carrington Falls in the Budderoo National Park and Belmore Falls. The Sydney to Bowral drive is around 118km in distance, making for a Sydney to Bowral driving time of around one hour and 22 minutes.

Accommodation options in Bowral include the Berida Hotel and Milton Park.